Water temperature controlling fountain



March 27, 1934. c Rpn- WATER TEMPERATURE CONTROLLING FOUNTAIN Filed Dec. 5, 1932 Jmmatoo JOHN CAQPITA Patented Mar. 27, 1934 UNlTED. STATES crrics WATER TEMPERATURE CONTROLLING FOUNTAIN My invention is a water cooling and drinking fountain in which is maintained a constant po tential supply of water ready to be liberated at a drinking fountain proper, at the will of the user,

and pertains especial y to drinking fountains comprising temperature controlling water coil means through which the water supply for the drinking fountain proper is directed; and the invention consists substantially in the construc- 19 tion, combination and arrangement of elements hereinafter set forth and pointed out more particularly in the claims.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide an outdoor drinking fountain, the water of which is protected against freezing during winter Weather.

t is also a primary object of the invention to provide a drinking fountain having an underground temperature controlling coil through which the water travels to an overground drinking fountain.

It is an important object to provide a device of this class having means to give and close oif access to the fountain proper and fountain bowl as desired, and means to lock the device in closed off or open position as desired.

It is a further object to provide ventilating facilities throughout the underground and overground parts of the structure which function, both when the fountain bowl is. closed off and when opened.

t is a further object to provide sewer connections anda trap for draining the fountain bowl and means to direct. a flushing water stream through said connections and trap from the source of fountain water supply, independently of the drinking fountain proper and fountain bowl.

The above and other objects are attained by the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which: 1 7

fi ure 1 is a fragmentary side View of the invention in which the underground portion of the apparatus is illustrated sectionally, the fountain proper being shown, closed off from use;

Fig. 2 is a sectional side View of the overground portion of the apparatus, the fountain proper and the fountain bowl being shown as when closed off; and,

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the extreme upper portion of the apparatus, in open position.

Similar characters of reference designate similar elements throughout the different views. Referring to Fig. 1, the numeral 1 designates the 55 overground portion of the invention, and the the pin 24, and valve crank 23.

numeral 2, designates the dry well which consists of the lower dry well proper 3, and the upper or connection room 4.

The overground portion of the apparatus is illustrated sectionally in Fig. 2, in which the numeral 5 indicates the fountain body, the horizontal cross section of which is of substantially square formation as will be understood from Fig. 3.

Spaced slightly from the upper edge of the fountain body 5, the fountain bowl 6 is secured within said body. As best indicated in Fig. 3, said bowl is preferably a round basin like device, by which characteristics as will be subsequently understood, vacant spaces are provided between the edge of said bowl and the corner formations of said fountain body, said spaces serving as part of a self ventilating system for the invention as will be understood.

The fountain bowl 6, is provided conveniently at a medial point with a drain outlet pipe 7, and conventional trap 8, similar to an ordinary sink trap. Said trap communicates with underground drain piping 9, through a vertical conduit 10.

The drinking fountain 11 protrudes upwardly through the wall structure of the bowl 6, and serves to direct a stream of water somewhat horizontally into said bowl. Said nozzle is conveniently fedthrough a nipple 12, a valve 13, and

piping 14, from a temperature controlling coil 15, which is disposed in the lowermost portion of the dry well proper 3, said controlling coil being in turn fed with water under pressure from a water supply source through conduit 16.

The user obtains water through the nozzle 11, by opening the valve 13 by means of the lever 1'7, which in this example of the invention is readily operated by the foot. Said lever is fulcrumed to'and Within the lower portion of the fountain body 5, by a. fulcrum pin 18. Downward thrust of the exposed lever pedal 19 which is secured to the protruding end of said lever, forces the opposite. and inwardly disposed end 20, of said lever upwardly, the extreme inward termination of said lever being pivoted to the upwardly extending rod 21, which is guided through the stationary guide 22. The valve operating lever 23 in this particular form of the invention is provided with a longitudinal slot and a cross pin 24 is rigidly secured through the rod 21, and somewhat loosely disposed through said slot, by which arrangement it will be understood that upward shifting. of said rod by downward thrust of the pedal 19 will open the valve 13 through A weight 25,

is conveniently provided between the fulcrum pin 18, and lever end 20 to return the rod 21, and lever 1'7, to normal position and thus close the valve 13, when the pedal 19 is released by the user, and the surplus water drains off through the trap 8.

The conduit 26, communicates with the nozzle feed pipe 14, and the bowl outlet pipe '7. A flushing valve 2'? forms a part of the conduit 26, and may be opened by a caretaker by a socket wrench (not shown) said valve being operated by a wrench fitting shank 28, through a wrench clearance hole 29 formed in the fountain body. It will thus be understood that the conduit 26 and valve 2'7, by-passes the valve 13, the fountain 11, and the bowl 6, and serves to direct a stream for flushing the trap 3, and simultaneously serves to remove stagnant water from the temperature controlling coil 15, and feed pipe 14.

Another wrench operated valve 30, forms a part of the feed pipe 14 at a point below the conduit 26, which is operated through another wrench clearance hole 31, through the wall structure of the fountain body 5, to entirely close off the water supply to the fountain and valve 27, when desired.

A hinged cover 32 is provided for the fountain body 5. When closed as indicated in Fig. l and Fig. 2, said cover overhangs said fountain body on all sides and said cover droops entirely around its edge portion making a weather proof closure for the fountain bowl 6 and fountain 11. The hinge lugs 33, are formed in substantially concealed position under said cover externally of the said fountain body, and exterior corresponding lugs 34, are provided on said fountain body, said corresponding lugs mating hingedly with the cover lugs 33, and being thus pivoted thereto by means of the hinge pins 35. A downward extending lug 36, which normally extends downwardly within said fountain body is carried by said cover, and is flexibly connected to the upper extremity of the rod 21, by means of the connecting link means 3'7. When said rod is raised by the lever 1'7, to open the fountain feed valve 13, said rod at the same time through the connecting link means 3'7 and lug 35, serves to swing the cover 31 to open position as indicated by the dotted lines 38, in Fig. 2, which position is further illustrated in Fig. 3, by which arrangement it will be obvious that said cover again returns to closed position with the valve 13, when the user has finished drinking from the fountain 11, and the pedal 19, has been released. It will thus be understood that the cover 31, is ordinarily closed when the invention is not in use. When desired, however, said cover is permitted to remain in open position for periods of time without regard to the open or closed position of the valve 13 and corresponding positions of the lever 1'7, by removing the lug and link coupling pin 39.

The cover 31 is provided, preferably at a medial point with a vent cap means 40, through which air and fumes pass by natural chimney draft action from within the bowl 6, and fountain body 5, said vent being connected with the interior space of said fountain body, below said bowl, by means of the corner air spaces 41, between the edge of said bowl and the corner wall structure of said fountain body, and it will be obvious that air and fumes raise from the lowermost portion of the dry well proper 3, through the connection room 4, through said fountain body, the spaces 41, and vent cap means 40. The upward movement of air and fumes as indicated by arrows throughout the apparatus is normally caused especially in warm weather by the fact that the water fed into the water temperature coil 15, is of a comparatively warm temperature, and said water tends in warm weather to constantly warm said coil and the interior of the dry well 2, during the process of being cooled by the comparatively cool underground atmosphere within said dry well, by which it will be understood that the resulting expansion of air within said dry well causes an upward movement of same. Fumes and vapors are also thus automatically permitted to move up wardly and pass from the apparatus. Such fumes and vapors are in some instances caused by moisture seepage from the surrounding soil through the wall structure 42, .of said dry well, although it is understood that said dry well wall structure is substantially water and moisture proof. In colder weather, the air arises from within the dry well 2, due to the fact that the underground atmosphere is warmer than the overhead atmosphere.

Referring to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, it will be observed that a lining means 43 is provided within the fountain body 5, said lining is spaced from the wall structure of said fountain body and the fountain bowl 6, and is conveniently supported at its lower portions by lugs 44, which extend from said body wall structure to said lining, and is supported at its upper portion by the flange 45, which is carried by the drain pipe '7, which passes through the upper wall portion 46, of said lining means. Said lining means serves to protect the interior of the apparatus as a whole from rapid heat conductivity through the fountain body wall structure resulting from weather conditions. The lower portion of said fountain body is flared into a swell 4'7 which forms a vertical slot 48, in which lever 17 swings when operated. A shield 49 is carried by said lever within said swell. Said flange conforms to the wall curvature of said swell and is carried by said lever in juxtaposition with said wall, and follows the lines thereof when said lever is operated by which arrangement said flange forms a closure for said slot in all operating positions of said lever thus preventing the entrance of outside air through said slot.

The rod guide 22, is conveniently mounted on the inner surface of the lining structure 43, and a lock screw 50 for said rod extends from said rod through a correspondingly threaded hole in said guide and thence through said lining structure. A wrench is applied to said lock screw through a wrench hole 51, formed in the adjacent wall structure of the fountain body 5.

The wrench holes 51, 29, and 31, are provided with outside flap means 52, which are conveniently and normally retained in closed position by gravity, and serve to be manually swung from each of said holes when a wrench is inserted therethrough for the purposes mentioned above. It will thus be understood that air communication through said holes is normally prevented by said flaps.

Notches 52 are provided in the rod 21, one of which registers with the lock screw 50 either in valve opening or closing portion of said rod, by which arrangement said rod may be locked in either position by screwing said lock screw into the respective one of said notches.

The numeral 53 designates a base plate which is interposed between the fountain body 5 and the upper edge 54 of the connection room lining. Said plate rests upon said edge, and said fountemperature controlling fountain, and valve controlled rounding soil. A hole 55 is formed in said plate, said hole conforming insize and shape to-thc lower interior edge of the fountain body swell 47.

From the foregoing it will be understood that in warm and hot weather the water supplied at the fountain 11 is cooled when passing through the coil 15, substantially to the underground temperature of the dry well proper 3. It is also understood that in cold and freezing weather the water contained in and passing through the various conduits, valves, etc. within the fountain body 5, is prevented from freezing by the comparatively warm air arising from the dry well 2.

It is also understood that in hot weather, water enters the coil 15 at a higher temperature than the walls of the dry well, for which reason there is an upward movement of air directly past said coil, and a corresponding downward movement of the air nearest said walls, and-that this circulation of air extends to movement of air within the fountain body or support 5, causing an intermingling with the air within the fountain support and dry well, thus keeping the water conveying conduits, valves, etc. within said support,

' cool as well as the fountain 11. .It is further and the air immediately surrounding said coil to move correspondingly downward; and that the air within the fountain support 5, being caused to move and intermingle with the air in the dry well, is kept warm enough from the warming of 'f the air in the dry well by said coil, to prevent freezing of the water conduits and valves in said fountain support, and to prevent freezing up of said fountain.

A damper 56 is provided in the neck 57 of the vent to by which said vent is closed off at will thus closing off the interior of the dry well 2 and the fountain body 5 from the overhead atmosphere. Said damper has an exposed wrench fitting trunnion 58, through which it is actuated.

While the description and drawing illustrate in a general way certain instrumentalities which may be employed in carrying the invention into effect, it is evident that many modifications may be made in the various detailswithout departing from the scope of the appended claims, it being understood that the invention is not restricted to the particular examples herein described.

The invention claimed is: a

1. In conjunction with a fountain and water structure having an overhead water fountain, a hollow overhead water fountain support, supporting same, an underground water conveying and cooling coil controlling the temperature of the water fed to the conduit means connecting the coil and fountain; a dry well filled with air throughout its depth, said well being in open communication with the interior of said fountain, and being otherwise independently closed off throughout its entire wall structure,

said dry well containing said coil in its lowermost part and serving to cause downward. atmospheric circulation of air around the lowermost part of such coil and upward movement of the air nearest the side walls of t e dry well in comparatively cold weather and t us serving to prevent the freezing up of said fountain by causing a movement of air in the fountain support and well, and causing the opposite movement of air in comparatively warm weather, serving thereby to cool the water on route through said coil to said fountain in warm weather and warm same in cold weather, said dry well serving to prevent entrance of odors and water to the fountain support and keep said coil in such air surrounded condition by preventing entrance of water i" odor thereto, and a ventilating opening in such fountain support servingas an outside communication from the interior thereof, and providing sufficient ventilation to keep the air within such fountain and dry well in a sanitary condition.

2. In conjunction with fountain and a water temperature controlling structure having an overhead water fountain, an underground coil controlling the temperature of water fed to the fountain, and valve controlled conduit means communicating such coil and fountain; an entirely air filled dry well closed off from soil seepage, having water proof walling and flooring throughout said dry well, consisting of a connection room sufiiciently large to accommodate workmen therein, and a dry well proper, less distance across horizontally than said connection room, the edge of said dry well forming a waterproof ledge upon which workmen stand in said connection room, while'installing and repairing said coil.

3. In conjunction with a fountain and water temperature controlling structure having an overhead water fountain, an imderground coil controlling the temperature of the water fed to the fountain; a valve controlled conduit means communicating said coil with said fountain, a dry well under said fountain and containing said coil, a round fountain basin, a fountain support supporting said fountain, said fountain having a substantially square hollow interior, the corners of said structure forming ventilating openings with the edge of said basin through which said dry well and the interior of said fountain support is ventilated.

4. In conjunction with a fountain and water temperature controlling structure, the combination of a fountain, an underground dry well under said fountain, a hollow overhead water fountain support supporting said fountain, the interior of said fountain support having an opening which communicates with the mouth of the dry well, a water temperature controlling coil means disposed within such dry well, such coil means serving to communicate such fountain means with a source of water supply and serving to change the temperature of water passing therethrough to such fountain by the temperature of the air in such dry well, a valve controlled conduit means communicating said coil and fountain, a plate dis posed over the edge of said dry well, said plate serving as a marginal mounting surface for said fountain support, and as a shield for the upper edge portion of said dry well and the adjacent soil surface, and said plate having an opening co-incident to the mouth of said dry well and the opening of the fountain support interior which communicates with said dry well.

5. In conjunction with a fountain and water cooling structure comprising a fountain, an underground dry well under said fountain, a hollow overhead water fountain support containing said fountain, the interior of said fountain support communicating with the interior of said dry well, and making a closed off air circulating space therewith, a water temperature controlling coil disposed within said dry well, said coil serving to communicate said fountain with a source of water supply and serving to change the temperature of water passing therethrough to such fountain by the temperature of the air in such dry well, and valve controlled conduit means conveying water from such coil to said fountain; a fountain base formed on said fountain support, said base having an outwardly and downwardly curved swell, said base forming a vertical slot, a lever means serving to operate said valve controlling said conduit means, said lever being pivoted with n said support and extending outwardly through said slot, the pivotal center of said lever being substantially coincident to the center of the vertical radius of curvature of said swell, and a shield carried by said lever in juxtaposition to the wall structure of said swell, around said slot and serving as a closure for said slot in all positions of said lever, said shield serving to prevent air movement through said slot between the surrounding atmosphere and the air circulating space closed oif by well and said fountain support.

6. In conjunction with a water fountain comprising an underground dry well, an overhead water fountain over said dry well, a water temperature controlling coil surrounded by the atmosphere within said dry well, said coil serving to communicate such fountain with a source of water supply, and serving to change the temperature of water passing therethrough to said fountain by the underground temperature of the side walls of said dry well; a hollow fountain support serving to support and enclose said fountain, the interior of said support being in open communication with the interior of said dry well, and forming an air circulation space in common therewith in which air circulates from the interior of said dry well to the interior of said fountam support, the movement of such air caused by the difference in temperature of the walls of said dry well and the temperature of said coil, plumbing within said fountain support serving to control and convey water to said fountain, and a shell within said support enclosing said plumbing and having upright walls substantially parallel with and spaced from the corresponding wall structure of such fountain support, the space within said shell and between said shell and such support serving as a part of said circulation space, and retarding the interrningling of the air adjacent the nner wall surface of such support, with that of the air which surrounds such plumbing within said shell.

JOHN CARPITA. 

